244 NAVIN ON THE HOESE. 



Penetrating ivounils of the helly may be very slight, or large 

 enough for portions of the bowels to hang out. We should not 

 despair of even such a case. Treatment may be successful. 

 If there is dirt on the protruded bowels or lips of the wound, 

 wash it oif. Then endeavor to get the guts back. But if this 

 can not be done, put a broad bandage around the horse to sup- 

 port the guts, and cast, or throw, the patient. Have plenty of 

 hay or straw for him to fall on, and be sure that he falls on the 

 opposite side from the injury. The guts must then be put 

 back, if it is even necessary to enlarge the opening. Then pro- 

 ceed to sew up the wound. The internal lining of the belly i? 

 to be brought together first. Have a proper curved needle 

 threaded with surgeon's or saddler's silk. Commence at one 

 end of the rent or opening, and pass the needle through the 

 two edges of the peritoneum, or under lining of the belly, draw 

 the thread until within about six inches of the end, and cut it 

 off, leaving both ends of the thread the same length. Do not 

 tie it, but pass another thread the same way, about half an 

 inch from the first, and cut it off the same way, and so on un- 

 til the necessary number of sutures are provided for. Then 

 tie them with a surgeon's knot. If the stitches are tied as the 

 thread is introduced, the last stitches can hardly be taken. 

 The next thing is to sew up the outer wound. This is done the 

 same way that a simple cut is sewed up. One arm of the 

 thread of each of the sutures in the peritoneum should be left 

 hanging out. The other may be cut ofi* tolerably close to the 

 knot. A broad bandage should be applied around the belly, 

 and the part may be kept wet with solution of tincture of 

 marigolds or cold water, to keep down inflammation. It may 

 be practicable, in some cases, to put the guts back and sew up 

 the wound without casting the horse. The diet should be very 

 cooling and light — scalded shorts, in moderate quantity. If a 

 gut should be cut, it should be sewed up nicely with fine silk 

 before being returned. If inflammation should run high, bleed 

 to the extent of reducing the pulse to thirty-six or forty. 



